Ford, Chrysler Shorten Summer Breaks at Some Plants

High Demand for Some Models Keeps Factories Humming

Since the dark days of 2008 and 2009, it seems nothing can stop Detroit over the last two years, with record-setting sales now a common theme month to month and year over year. The Detroit Three have traditionally closed for two weeks in July as part of the summer holiday for factory workers, but Automotive News reports some plants are shortening that holiday to just one week on high demand for certain models.

Chrysler's Jefferson North plant, which builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs, will work straight through July, with no planned shutdown. Ford will shorten plant closures from two weeks to one at its Chicago, Kansas City, and two Louisville, Kentucky, plants. Those plants build the Ford Explorer, F-150, F-Series Super Duty, Escape, and Lincoln MKC models.